Audits are good!
Hello and Good Evening:
I am inspired! A (Federal) Audit is a great idea. I think that would put any doubts to rest as to how our tax dollars are being spent. I believe it would answer questions everyone seems to have about the monies received for federal grants, as well as, other business issues.
I have debated the message and the firefighter's explanation that was given regarding Fairview. While it does seem plausible, why do we need to go to the far corner of the County to provide fire protection. I understand that the money received for fire protection would assist in cost to the WBFD. Do we really want our fire fighters so far from the city? I can understand giving protection to families just outside the city and even giving assistance to other departments upon request.
It seems logical that instead of building a new City Hall, our tax dollars would be better spent building a new Fire Hall with full time firefighters or even update our Fire Hall at a less expense and have full time firefighters to man the hall 24-7. I feel the taxpayers would find this more benificial than a new City Hall.
Some one mentioned our small town, we are not small, look around at all of the new construction taking place. More and more subdivisions are being built.
If City Hall was automated with the files scanned to disk for storage there would be plenty of space there. If the files were on disk then duplicate copies could be stored as backup in case of a disaster. As it stands, with all the work being done by hand, do we actually have a backup system. I hope our town history is being preserved.
We should all have the right to question the Town Officials. The council members blame the Mayor and the Mayor will not look you in the eye and give you a straight answer. It is very frustrating to the citizens.
From an employees stand point, if no one says don't waste gas, keep the trucks in the city limits when test driving them because we have a budget to maintain, like that employee I would drive the vehicles because as far as I know its OK. The Mayer is responsible and its up to him to set the guidelines for the town employees.
I intend to continue questioning how our tax dollars are being spent. I do not care to know anyone's personal affairs. I do care how other people are spending my money.
To: Mr. Hutchin, like flash hunting the koon, your all barking up the wrong tree.
posted by John Q. Taxpayer @ 8:07 PM
15 comments
15 Comments:
I have decided to write a letter to city and tell them my thoughts on spending money.I hope everyone else who is concerned will do the same thing. You could still bring up your own opinion at the town meeting.
I THINK THIS IS THE REASONABLE WAY TO SOLVE AND PREVENT WASTED TAX DOLLAS. THERE SHOULD BE A NEW TOWN LAW THAT REQUIRES AN AUDIT AT THE END OF EVERY MAYOR'S TERM. ANY AUDIT HERE IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE ALL THEY WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH IS A ONE LINE DOLLAR AMOUNT. LINE ITEAM BUDGETS SHOULD BECOME MANDATORY BY LAW. THE CITY SHOULD PASS SUCH A LAW. EVERYONE NEEDS TO WORK TOGETHER AND GET ENOUGH PEOPLE TO ATTEND THE TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT THE PROCEEDING HAVE TO BE MOVED TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER. WHEN THAT MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP REPESENTIVES WILL START TO LISTEN.
NOT TAKING THE FIRE EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE THE CITY WILL CAUSE A RATE INCREASE OF 10 TO 20 PERCENT INCREASE IN THE TOWNS PEOPLES FIRE INSURANCE AND MORE FOR THE PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CITY. THE INSURANCE SERVICES ORGANIZATION MAKES THE RULES. I WILL LET YOU GUESS WHO PAYS THEIR SALIRES.
I think an audit is a good idea too.
Let's get the ball rolling on that. It won't get rid of bad politicans but it would bring out more of just what is going down.
And of any of it is not on the up and up the state boys will find it.
But we still have to vote out the people who make bad decisions and the ones who don't listen to us.
For the fire department your people were the first pictures on here probably because you are just seen more. Plus you answered lots of the questions posed.
But John Q has asked for other pictures to be sent in so people do that when you see something you know is out of line.
I am sure there are plenty.
And not just pictures send in reports here, to blufwatch, the the papers.
Keep on truckin
Nicky your idea on trying to get an State Audit is just the kind of thinking we need. Because the way the town is ran now they will never do one fairly on their own.
Barry you are right more people need to go to meetings. Just to show we care and are watching.
But I don't know that means they will listen not the group there now.
When the room was packed against annexation they went right ahead on.
And when you have the Mayor, his mammy in law, and his employees wife sitting on the council it is hard to get anything done he don't want. And 2 of the others are as hardheaded and all about the money. They don't give a damn about we the people.
So we must vote them out and until then watch them like a hawk.
Little Momma asked me on blufwatch if the Mayor go for an audit.....thought I would address that here and post some info on getting an audit
If people can convince the state there is enough reason to do an audit on the town, it really would not matter what the local government wanted or signed off on, it is not up to them.
To be honest I don't know the best way to go about getting that started, I do know some people I can ask, but there are many others here in town who are concerned and each one should try to get the ball rolling in their own way.
One would think folks should list the problems they are aware of for the state. As I said below there was an audit here several years ago, before this current administration but still with some of the same people with the city. Don't hold me to this, I think at that time the state found numerous problems. Just what all they look into, I can't really tell you, but the way money is handled, how it is spent, other procedures would be high on the list.
I will see about finding out for sure who would need to be contacted. But I am thinking it is the Division of Municipal Audit of the State Of Tennessee, if so they are are listed on this website, State Comptroller And here is an example of the sort of audits those folks do
Investigative Audit Reports There is a interesting one on there concerning the Turnbull-White Bluff Utility District.
But again please don't wait on me to get this going check into this for yourselves, I am sure the more citizens they hear from or who put a bug in their ear so to speak, the better.
And like I said, I don't think this will fix all the problems people have with local government, but it would be a step in that direction to address concerns that many have.
P.S.
But don't think the state will just come here and do an audit without some reason or evidence that one is needed. that will be up to those who want to see one done.
i think askng for an audit is just a backhanded slap at the town.
there is nothing wroing with white bluff
get over it or move off
Asking for an audit is not a backhanded slap at the town. The town is it's residents. And City Hall is City Hall.The residents are not responsible for keeping the finances and their books.
100,000 no bid contract???
Nicky Posted:
"As far as I know they never had a meeting just to discuss spending all that loot on new Town Hall before they voted on that.
I think they are going to have one AFTER the fact over what all is going into the building.
At the last council meeting they voted on the budget, which included the Town Palace, I am not sure if that detail was announced prominently or not. Certainly it was not well known to the general public. At the meeting they did ask for comments on the budget as a whole. That is when I asked if they had an alternative plan to building the new Town Hall, and they did not. So the way they do budgets here seems to be one way or nothing.
What was interesting and something folks should pay close attention to, i that right after they brought the budget up, and closed comments from anyone there, the cost on the Town Hall jumped over $200,000
from they had just talked about. I think that should have been mentioned before not after they asked for comments.
And another note, the firm they choose to do the design for that and the renovation for the fire hall, was selected
WITHOUT
bids. One council person did ask about that, but the Mayor said they did not legally have to get bids on a professional contract like that. Even if that is so, wouldn't it be a good thing to check around? I am not sure but I think that is gonna cost another
$100 thousand!
That is a lot of money for town our size, but I guess when you are spending $1.5 Million for a building it is just a drop in the bucket. Remember our yearly budget for the entire town is usually considerbly less that one million for everything.
And remember the fit they threw at city hall a few years ago because the majority voted to take a higher bid on trash pickup because many people wanted to keep the one we had? But they don't mind spending that much with no bids at all?
The estimate you heard on how many were there sounds about right. If you count the city workers, reporters and council, the public had way less than half of those in attendence. I think there would have been more there if folks were aware of the spending plan.
But people should know they do have a meeting each month, so the best idea is to go, or try calling ahead and see if they will tell you what is on the agenda. Even then you never know what will get brought up.
And without going into many details right now, there are a multitude of things that much money could be spent on that would really benefit this town and it's people. Maybe we can work a list up and put on here later."
i think our city needs a janitor because the need to be cleaned out.
if danny williams is too busy dealing with other matters why dont you resign
and lets elect someone who cares about the town and not the almighty dollar or how impressive the building for melody and carol is
is flash hunting coons allowed in Tennessee?
OLD "FLASH" IS JIMMY ORANGES COON
DOG. I DONT KNOW ABOUT THIS WEB SITE, MAYBE THE OWNER GOES OUT AND FLASHES COONS.
YOUR TURN
I definately agree. Auditing should be a way of life in our system. It shouldn't be viewed as a negative thing, because that's exactly what keeps people on par with thier performance. If you prove yourself and are audited then you have nothing to worry about. Audits are good!
Does anyone know where we can put up some signs about this in town? Would it be a problem if we made some big banners to hang on hwy 70?
Working man-I think that would be a big proble. It is a state highway after all.Of course It would be ok to put them on your property, land, vehicle, t-shirt, that kind of thing.You could probably even sell some of those t-shirts.
Post a Comment
<< Home